Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts

Minneapolis, MN

Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts (MCGA) is the only nonprofit public access glass studio and education center in Minnesota. Founded in 2009, it serves a broad spectrum of artists and the public through affordable studio access, classes, residencies, exhibitions, and community partnerships. The organization supports more than 150 practicing glass artists and engages 8,000+ people annually through classes, demonstrations, gallery programs, and a retail marketplace. Located in Minneapolis’s Focus Arts Building, Foci MCGA fosters a vibrant and inclusive community, offering glassblowing, kiln-forming, flameworking, neon, and more. Equity-driven partnerships extend access to underrepresented groups and youth from historically marginalized communities.

To support long-term sustainability, Foci MCGA will use this grant to determine the feasibility of implementing a solar energy system and/or a heat recapture system in its hot shop. Both strategies emerged from prior energy audits as promising pathways to reduce emissions, improve building efficiency, and lower operational costs. Working within a shared-use facility, the project will produce the designs, assessments, and financial analyses needed for implementation. By harnessing waste heat and renewable power, Foci MCGA aims to model environmentally responsible glassmaking and reduce barriers to energy-intensive artistic practices.

Milestones

• Complete technical analysis of solar and heat recapture system feasibility

• Generate architectural and engineering designs for one or both systems

• Assess energy savings and return on investment for each approach

• Coordinate with building owner to prepare for shared rooftop installation

• Develop implementation-ready specifications and financial projections

• Advance energy-efficient operations in a high-consumption glass facility